Hitching-post



(No Model.) I

P! WHITEHEAD.

Hitohiing Post.

No. 240,294. Patented April 19,1881.

- a mama W i g- W v .752 a1 7 W 'Amfim N. PEYERS. PHDTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK WHITEHEAD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HlTCHlNG-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,294, dated April 19, 1881.

Application filed November 29,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WHITE- HEAD, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to hitching-posts; and

it consists in the combination of a peculiarlyconstructed post or standard with a swinging lock or clamp for holding and preventing the withdrawal of a halter-strap. In the drawings, Figure l is a view in front elevation of a hitching-post constructed ac cording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached view, showing, in side elevation, my device. Fig. 3 is a view, part in section, part in plan, of the deviceillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates a modified form of my invention, wherein the flange 0, instead of being attached to the post A, is attached to the swinging locking-piece B. Fig. 5 shows a hitching-post with my supplemental holder for retaining the free end of the hitching-strap.

A is a hitching-post. Its upper portion is provided with two lockingpieces, B, pivotally attached at their upper ends to the post A. The lower ends of the locking-pieces B, when swung down, are brought into close relation with an inclined surface, 0, formed in the head of the post A. The surface (J is in the form of a groove or trough, within which rests the halter-strap D. This groove or trough form of the portion 0 prevents the strap D from lateral displacement, while it permits of an easy removal of the strap from the post when the locking-piece B is lifted, as indicated in the dotted lines of Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, an equivalent substitute for the groove or trough surface 0 can be had by forming the flange G upon the lower outside face of the lockingpiece B, instead of placingitupon thepost A, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In either case, whether constructed as illustrated in Figs. 1 or at, the operation of the flange 0 will be the same-that is, to prevent the strap D from lateral displacement or escape. The floor of The operation of my device is exceedingly simple and hardly needs description.

As sufliciently shown in the drawings, if the locking-piece B is raised, the strap can be readily placed upon the floor O, and then, the locking-piece B being dropped down upon the strap and the horse being hitched to the end D of the strap D, it will readily be seen that any pulling upon said strap will only serve to tighten the gripe thereon between the floor O and the end of the locking-piece B, while the flange 0, whether attached to the post A or the locking-piece B, will effectually prevent any lateral displacement or escape of the hitching-strap. To free the strap it is only necessary to lift the locking-piece B, and the bite of said piece can be readily loosened by slightly pulling upon the end D of the hitching-strap.

The device thus far specified will be sufficient for securely retaining a hitching-strap. Any persons, however, not willing to trust to the operation of the said mechanism may wish an additional or supplemental arrangement for retaining the free end D of the strap, and Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates one of an indefinite number of methods whereby this supplemental mechanism can be applied. It consists of a retaining-loop or any holder, E, through which the free end of the strap D can be drawn. This loop or holder will retain the free end of the strap and prevent any possibility that might otherwise exist of the hitching-strap becoming detached from the post through accident or through ordinary meddlesomeness or carelessness. This supplemental holder may be in the form of the ordinary keeper used in connection with buckles to retain the free end of the strap; or, instead of this, any other keeper or holder whatever may be used.

What I claim is The combination, with a hitching-post provided with a cap or head consisting of a top and base connected by a central web, the base being provided-with upright flanges, of two swinging clamps pivoted to the opposite sides of the central web by a single bolt, each of said clamps being furnished on their free ends with a serrated edge and keepers attached to the base for securing the free end of the strap, 10 substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Lhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIOK XVHITEHEAD. WVitnesses:

JNO. GROWELL, Jr., ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

